The Economist published an exciting article looking at the various ways material scientists are using natural plant fibers to enhance everyday materials.

Finnish Company Stora Enso launched their bio-based lignin product last month, LineoTM, which can be used to replace oil-based phenolic materials in resins for plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), laminated veneer lumber (LVL), paper lamination, insulation materials, and more.

A Swedish packaging manufacturer, Arta Plast, has engineered a new renewable paperboard cup for dairy products and other chilled products from a material called Cupforma Natura (TM), by Stora Enso.